Low profile downspout extension with non-rectangular outlet

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/739,697, filed on Jan. 11, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/952,078, filed on Nov. 22, 2010, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0002This invention relates generally to an apparatus for conveying rainwater away from a downspout and, more particularly, to a downspout extension that connects to different downspout sizes and incorporates a low profile configuration to move water underneath landscaping to a remote discharge location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0003Gutters and downspouts are mounted on most residential and commercial structures along the lower edge of the roof of the structure to receive water draining off of the roof, such as during a rainstorm. Gutters come in many different styles, including K gutter, half round gutter, or commercial box gutter, but all are generally formed with an open top through which water is received into a trough or channel that delivers the water by gravity to a downspout for discharge away from the building structure. Gutters are often mounted on a plurality of hangers that are spaced along the length of the gutter and fastened to fascia boards by nails or screws such that the gutter is suspended from the hangers. The downspout is connected to an outlet of the gutter to provide a conduit to drain the collected rainwater from the gutter for discharge along the surface of the ground and direct the rainwater away from the building structure.

0004Typically, the downspout is provided with an elbow at the discharge end thereof to direct the discharged rainwater into a generally horizontal direction away from the building on which the downspout is mounted. These elbows at the discharge end of the downspout have a short length and are only effective to provide a direction for the discharge of the rainwater away from the building; therefore, the rainwater is often discharged too close to the building and the discharged rainwater can find a way into the basement of the building to cause cracks or leaks. Splash blocks can be provided to receive the discharged rainwater from the downspout elbow and help direct the rainwater away from the building. Other attempts to divert the rainwater from downspouts include a non-flexible extension, which is typically a generally horizontally disposed piece of downspout affixed to the discharge end of the elbow, and a flexible downspout extension that can be bent in a desired direction to redirect the discharged rainwater.

0005Occasionally, a landowner will bury into the ground a drainage pipe or conduit for conveying rainwater to a remote location, such as a groundwater restoration cistern, or at least some point remotely distant from the building. The downspout is then connected to the drainage pipe by the downspout extension so that the rainwater is discharged at a location that will not infiltrate into the basement of the building. Once such downspout extension can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,701, granted to Christopher Noble on Sep. 29, 1998. The Noble downspout extension is formed with multiple adapter portions at each end of a flexible central portion. The adapter segments at the respective ends of the downspout extension are separated by a cut line to allow the installer of the downspout extension to separate the outwardmost adapter segment from the downspout extension so that the inner adapter segment could be utilized to connect to the downspout. The Noble downspout extension is formed so that the adapter segments at one end of the downspout extension will be capable of fitting into the corresponding adapter segment at the opposing end of the downspout extension so that multiple downspout extensions can be hooked together in a serial manner.

0006In U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,825, granted to Christopher Noble on Mar. 28, 2000, the downspout extension was formed with multiple adapter segments at each end of the flexible central portion of the downspout extension. More particularly, the adapter segments begin with a large rectangular configuration on the outwardmost ends of the downspout extension followed inwardly by a smaller rectangular adapter segment and then inwardly a smaller circular adapter segment. Each adapter segment is separable from the inwardly disposed adapter segment by a cut line so that the outward adapter segments can be removed. Accordingly, when the outwardmost adapter segment was utilized to connect to the discharge end of the downspout, the rainwater, and any debris entrained within the flow of the rainwater had to pass from a larger adapter configuration into a smaller adapter configuration, thus forming a restriction on the flow through the downspout extension.

0007A differently configured flexible downspout extension is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,614 granted on Mar. 28, 2006, to Stephen Handley. In the Handley downspout extension, one end of the downspout extension was formed with multiple rectangular adapter segments arranged in decreasing sizes from the outwardmost adapter segment to the innermost adapter segment, while the opposing end of the downspout extension was provided with circular connector sized for attachment to a circular drainage pipe or conduit. Thus, one end of the flexible downspout extension is formed for connection to a downspout, while the opposing end is formed for connection to a drainage pipe. As with the Noble downspout extensions, the connection of the downspout to the outwardmost adapter segment causes the flow to be constricted through decreasingly smaller adapter segments before reaching the central flexible portion.

0008Low profile downspout extensions are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,632, granted to Eric M. Zima on Jan. 26, 1999, in which a telescopic extension is coupled to the discharge end of the downspout to direct water therefrom to a remote location. The rain chute disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,358, issued on Mar. 20, 2001, to Lawrence M. Janesky, also provides a low profile apparatus for conveying water to a remote location from the downspout of a building. A low profile conduit connectable to a downspout discharge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,532, granted on Dec. 2, 2008, to W. Haynes Sloan. The structure of this low profile conduit requires a reinforcement member at the transition area between the circular connector and the low profile rectangular conduit.

0009It would be desirable to provide a low profile downspout extension that is configured to connect to either 2×3 or 3×4 rectangular downspouts and transition into a low profile rectangular conduit that can be located below landscaping without providing internal reinforcement members. It would further be desirable to provide a low profile downspout extension that is extendable incrementally to provide a conduit of desirable length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0010It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a low profile downspout extension that is connectable to different downspout sizes and transitions into a low profile conduit.

0011It is another object of this invention to provide a low profile downspout extension that multiple component parts that couple together to convey rainwater from a downspout to a remote location.

0012It is a feature of this invention that the low profile portions of the downspout extension is formed with vertically oriented side ribs to provide strength to the low profile portions.

0013It is another feature of this invention that the low profile connector segments are formed in a non-rectangular configuration to cooperate with the ribbed side walls to strengthen the connector segments.

0014It is still another feature of this invention that the top surface of the low profile connector segments are formed with a central bead to strengthen the cross-sectional configuration of the low profile connector segments.

0015It is yet another feature of this invention that the low profile portions of the extension member have a cross-section configuration in the shape of a pentagon with the central bead in the top surface forming an apex of the pentagon shape.

0016It is an advantage of this invention that the ribbed side walls of the low profile connector segments provide a capability of telescoping an extension segment from the splash block segment.

0017It is another advantage of this invention that the length of the low profile conduit can be extended by adding additional segments.

0018It is still another feature of this invention that the splash block of the extension member has a substantially linear flow path from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

0019It is another advantage of this invention that water will not be trapped in the splash block.

0020It is still another feature of this invention that the extension member can be connected to a downspout by an adapter.

0021It is a further feature of this invention that the adapter can be connected to a flexible conduit component.

0022It is still another object of this invention to provide a low profile downspout extension that can be utilized above ground on top of landscaping.

0023It is still a further feature of this invention that the body portion of the splash block member is formed in an open configuration to expose the bottom surface of the body portion to the atmosphere.

0024It is still another advantage of this invention to provide an open splash block configuration for an aesthetically desirable alternative to the closed body member configuration.

0025It is yet another advantage of this invention that the open splash pad configuration for the body portion has a tapered sidewall having the smallest height at the discharge end of the splash pad.

0026It is yet another object of this invention to provide a low profile downspout extension that is connectable to the discharge end of a downspout to direct rainwater away from the building on which the downspout is mounted, which is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use.

0027These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a low profile downspout extension that can be formed in multiple segments including a flexible conduit component, a splash block component and an extension component. The splash block component transitions from a circular inlet into a low profile pentagon configuration in the body portion with a central bead along the top surface of the low profile body portion to define an apex of the pentagon shape. The body portion is wider than the diameter of the circular inlet but has a height at the central bead that is more than half the diameter of the circular inlet. The body portion is also formed with ribbed side walls to enhance the strength of the body portion without requiring internal reinforcement. The bottom surface of the splash block component defines a flow path that extends generally linearly from the bottom of the circular inlet opening to the bottom of the pentagon-shaped outlet opening. An open configuration for the splash block component provides an alternative above ground splash pad structure for connecting to downspouts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0028The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

0029<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an exploded perspective view of the primary components of the low profile downspout extension with the flexible conduit component being oriented in a first configuration;

0030<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is an exploded perspective view of the primary components of the low profile downspout extension with the flexible conduit component being oriented in a second configuration;

0031<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the splash block component looking into the circular inlet end thereof;

0032<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a top plan view of the splash block component shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>;

0033<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a side elevational view of the splash block component shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>;

0034<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an enlarged inlet end view of the splash block component;

0035<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an enlarged outlet end view of the splash block component;

0036<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the low profile portion taken along lines <b>8</b>-<b>8</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> to show the pentagon shape of the low profile portion;

0037<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a perspective view from the outlet end of the splash block component;

0038<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a side elevational view of an alternative open splash block component;

0039<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is a rear perspective view of the alternative open splash block component shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>;

0040<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a front perspective view of the alternative open splash block component shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>;

0041<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is a side elevational view of an extension member for extending the length of the low profile portion of the splash block component;

0042<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is a top plan view of the extension member shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>;

0043<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines <b>15</b>-<b>15</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> to depict the non-rectangular configuration of the extension member; and

0044<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is an enlarged detail view showing the shape of the central bead along the longitudinal length of the extension member, corresponding to the circle <b>16</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

0045Referring now to the drawings, a low profile downspout extension incorporating the principles of the instant invention can best be seen. The low profile downspout extension is described in greater detail in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/952,078 of Robert Benjamin Bell, et al, filed on Sep. 27, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The low profile downspout extension <b>10</b> is preferably formed from a hydrocarbon polymer, such as vinyl, polypropylene, PET and PVC, and includes separate components that can be assembled into a downspout extension of variable length depending on the utilization of extension components. As best seen in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, the downspout extension <b>10</b> includes a flexible conduit component <b>20</b>, an adapter <b>15</b> detachably connectable to the inlet end <b>21</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b> to selectively change the size of the connection to the downspout (not shown), a fixed length splash block component <b>40</b> and one or more extension components that can be connected to extend the length of the downspout extension as far as desired.

0046The flexible conduit component <b>20</b> is formed with a rectangular inlet end <b>21</b>, a circular outlet end <b>27</b> and a corrugated flexible portion <b>25</b> interconnecting the inlet and outlet ends <b>21</b>, <b>27</b>. The rectangular inlet end <b>21</b> is preferably sized to mount onto a three inch by four inch rectangular downspout outlet (not shown) and is provided with screw dimples or holes to facilitate the utilization of screws to secure the inlet end <b>21</b> to the downspout. The flexible conduit component <b>20</b> also includes a transition portion <b>22</b> that converts the shape from rectangular to circular that mates with the central corrugated flexible portion <b>25</b>, which is approximately four inches in diameter. The central flexible portion <b>25</b> is bendable in substantially any direction to allow the inlet end <b>21</b> to be oriented relative to the outlet end <b>27</b> as desired. The central flexible portion <b>25</b> terminates in the circular outlet end <b>27</b> that is formed with a connecting rib projecting in a raised manner outwardly from the exterior surface of the outlet end <b>27</b>.

0047The inlet end <b>21</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b> is also formed with a connecting rib that extends around the perimeter of inlet end <b>21</b> and with an attachment rib that is formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the inlet end <b>21</b>. The flexibility of the corrugated central portion <b>25</b> allows the inlet end <b>21</b> to be oriented generally vertically for connection to a discharge end of a downspout (not shown) while the outlet end <b>27</b> is typically oriented generally horizontally to connect to the splash block component <b>40</b> that is positioned to divert water from the downspout underneath landscaping or other cover (not shown). One skilled in the art will readily understand that other selective configurations can be achieved with the ability to position the inlet end <b>21</b> as desired relative to the outlet end <b>27</b>.

0048The adapter <b>15</b> is formed with a rectangular inlet end and a rectangular outlet end. The inlet end is preferably sized to fit over a two inch by three inch downspout discharge end. As with the inlet end <b>21</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b>, screw dimples or holes are formed in each side of the perimeter of the inlet end to allow the use of screws to fasten the adapter to the downspout (not shown). The outlet end is sized to fit internally of the inlet end <b>21</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b> and, thus, is substantially at a three inch by four inch rectangular size. The adapter <b>15</b> has a transition portion that expands the shape of the adapter <b>15</b> from the smaller inlet end to the larger outlet end.

0049The outlet end is also provided with a connecting rib extending around the perimeter of the outlet end and positioned to engage within the connecting rib of the flexible conduit component when the outlet end is positioned within the inlet end <b>21</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b> to help retain the adapter within the flexible conduit component <b>20</b>. The top and bottom surfaces of the outlet end of the adapter <b>15</b> are also provided with a deflecting attachment tab having a ridge at the distal end thereof. The attachment tab is operable to deflect inwardly because the ridge pushes the attachment tab inwardly as the adapter <b>15</b> is inserted into the inlet end <b>21</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b>. When the ridge is aligned with the attachment rib the attachment tab springs outwardly to lock the ridge into the attachment rib, locking the adapter <b>15</b> into the flexible conduit component <b>20</b>.

0050The splash block component <b>40</b> includes an inlet end <b>41</b> formed in a circular configuration to mate with the outlet end <b>27</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b>. As with the adapter <b>15</b>, the inlet end <b>41</b> is sized to receive the outlet end <b>27</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b> and is formed with a connecting rib <b>42</b> that will be engaged by the connecting rib of the outlet end <b>27</b> of the flexible conduit component <b>20</b> when inserted into the inlet end <b>41</b>. The splash block component <b>40</b> has a body portion <b>45</b> that is non-rectangular in shape but has a low profile that has the height at slightly more than half of the diameter of the circular inlet end <b>41</b> and is much smaller than the width. The body portion <b>45</b> terminates in an outlet end <b>49</b> that includes a connecting rib <b>49</b><i>a </i>projecting outwardly thereof around the perimeter of the low profile outlet end <b>49</b>. Between the circular inlet end <b>41</b> and the body portion <b>45</b>, a transition portion <b>43</b> changes the circular shape of the inlet end <b>41</b> to the low profile non-rectangular body portion <b>45</b>.

0051The body portion <b>45</b> is preferably formed in the cross-sectional shape of a pentagon with the uppermost apex thereof being located at the center of the top surface <b>48</b> of the body portion <b>45</b>. The other four apexes of the pentagon shape are located at the top and bottom corners of the side walls <b>46</b>, although each side wall apex is rounded to enhance the strength of the body portion <b>45</b>. The side walls <b>46</b> are formed along the longitudinal length of the body portion <b>45</b> with a series of spaced apart reinforcing ribs <b>47</b> that provide structural strength to the body portion <b>45</b> and resist collapse thereof when weight is placed on the top surface <b>48</b> between the side walls <b>46</b>. To further strengthen the cross-section of the body portion <b>45</b>, the apex <b>52</b> at the center of the top surface <b>48</b> is formed with a rounded bead <b>45</b><i>a. </i>

0052One skilled in the art will recognize that other geometric shapes can be utilized to strengthen the cross-sectional shape of the body portion <b>45</b> so as to eliminate the need for internal reinforcements within the body portion <b>45</b>. One such shape could be a triangular configuration with the upper apex thereof aligned with the central bead <b>45</b><i>a </i>in the top surface <b>48</b>. A further configuration to enhance the strength of the body portion <b>45</b> as compared to a simple rectangular shape would be a crowned or arched top surface <b>48</b> to bows upwardly relative to the bottom surface <b>48</b><i>a </i>to distribute the weight asserted on the top surface <b>48</b> outwardly to the side walls <b>46</b>. The top surface <b>48</b>, or at least a portion thereof, can also be formed with reinforcing ribs that cross laterally from one side wall <b>46</b> to the other.

0053The orientation of the inlet end <b>41</b> of the splash block <b>40</b> relative to the outlet end <b>49</b> of the body portion <b>45</b> defines a generally linearly extending flow path along the bottom portion <b>48</b><i>a</i>, although the shape of the cross-sectional configuration of the splash block <b>40</b> along the flow path changes from circular at the inlet opening <b>41</b>, through a transitional shaping to present a wider bottom surface <b>48</b><i>a </i>along the pentagon-shaped body portion <b>45</b>. As a result, the water will flow smoothly from the inlet end <b>41</b> to the outlet end <b>49</b>.

0054As with the conduit system described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/952,078, the last component of the flex conduit system <b>10</b> is the extension member, best seen in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 13-16</figref>, the configuration of which is formed substantially identically to the body portion <b>45</b> of the splash block <b>40</b>. The extension member <b>30</b> has the same pentagon cross-sectional shape as the body portion <b>35</b> to permit a tight mating therewith, preferably including the central bead <b>45</b> along the top surface thereof to form the upper apex of the pentagon shape. The proximal end <b>31</b> of the extension member <b>30</b> has a slightly enlarged cross-section to receive the remote outlet end <b>49</b> of the low profile body portion <b>45</b> of the splash block component <b>40</b>. Conversely, the distal end <b>33</b> of the extension member is formed with a slightly smaller cross-sectional shape to be adapted to nest internally of the proximal end <b>31</b> of the next extension member <b>30</b> in the event more than one extension member <b>30</b> is required to attain the desired overall length of the flexible conduit system <b>10</b>. A connecting rib <b>32</b> will provide an annular engagement structure for mating with the connecting rib <b>49</b><i>a </i>on the outlet end <b>49</b> of the splash block <b>40</b>, while a sealing bead <b>34</b> at the opposing distal end <b>33</b> will facilitate sequential coupling of multiple extension members to form a low profile conduit <b>10</b> of substantial length.

0055The maximum length of the assembly <b>10</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is when the connecting rib <b>32</b> on the extension member <b>30</b> is engaged with the connecting rib <b>49</b><i>a </i>on outlet end <b>49</b> of the body portion <b>45</b>. If substantially the entire length of the extension member <b>30</b> is formed in a larger cross-section shape like the proximal end, the extension member <b>30</b> can slide along the length of the body portion <b>45</b> by forcing the connecting rib <b>32</b> past the connecting rib <b>49</b><i>a </i>and also past the connecting ribs <b>47</b> along the side walls <b>46</b> of the body portion. In this manner, a reduction in the overall length of the low profile conduit system <b>10</b> can be accomplished by telescoping of the first extension member <b>30</b> onto the body portion <b>45</b> of the splash block member <b>40</b> to provide a finite length adjustment equivalent to substantially the longitudinal length of the first extension member <b>30</b>. Subsequent extension members <b>30</b> connecting the proximal end <b>31</b> onto the adjacent distal end <b>33</b> can provide a length conduit system <b>10</b> with the finite adjustment to the overall length being accomplished through manipulation of the first extension member <b>30</b> and the body portion <b>45</b> of the splash block component <b>40</b>.

0056As is depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, the flex conduit component <b>20</b>, and the adapter <b>15</b> connected thereto, can be oriented in orthogonal configuration to provide an A/B option as a connecting elbow. The position shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is the most typical orientation, as this corresponds to most downspout constructions. Some downspouts (not shown) are oriented at ninety degrees to this typical orientation, and the flex conduit component can be turned ninety degrees about the connection of the outlet end <b>27</b> of the flex conduit component <b>20</b> to the inlet end <b>41</b> of the splash block component <b>40</b>. The circular construction of the flexible corrugated central portion <b>25</b> does not change its perspective with respect to the surroundings.

0057An alternative open splash block <b>50</b> configuration is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 10-12</figref> to provide an above-ground alternative to the closed body portion configuration of the splash block component <b>40</b>. The alternative splash block <b>50</b> is formed with the circular inlet end <b>51</b> that opens into a transition portion <b>53</b> converting the circular shape of the inlet end <b>51</b> into a U-shaped open splash pad <b>55</b> that has a width greater than the diameter of the inlet end <b>51</b>. The splash pad <b>55</b> is devoid of an upper surface and is defined by a bottom surface <b>56</b> and tapered upright side walls <b>57</b> that have a minimum height at the distal outlet end <b>59</b>. The bottom surface is preferably formed with transversely oriented ribs <b>58</b> to dissipate energy of the rain water discharged into the splash block <b>50</b> from the connected downspout (not shown). The transition portion <b>53</b> is partially open along the top surface thereof to conform to the shape of the splash pad <b>55</b>, but is closed adjacent the circular inlet end <b>51</b> to provide stability and strength to the inlet end <b>51</b>.

0058The alternative splash block configuration <b>50</b> can be connected to a downspout (not shown) in the same manner as the splash block <b>40</b> by connecting the circular discharge end <b>27</b> of a flexible conduit component <b>20</b> to the inlet end <b>51</b> and also connecting the rectangular inlet end <b>21</b> to the downspout either directly or through an adapter <b>15</b> to provide flow communication between the downspout and the alternative splash block component <b>50</b>. In this configuration, the alternative splash block <b>50</b> can be placed on top of landscaping to dissipate the discharge rainwater from the downspout over the discharge end <b>59</b> onto the landscaping. The discharge end <b>59</b> is preferably provided with an opening <b>59</b><i>a </i>through which a spike can be inserted to secure the discharge end <b>59</b> to the surface over which the splash pad <b>55</b> is positioned. The inlet end <b>51</b> is preferably elevated above the splash pad <b>55</b>, such that the bottom of the circular inlet <b>51</b> is located above the plane of the bottom surface <b>56</b>, so that a back flow of water from the splash pad <b>55</b> into the flexible conduit component <b>20</b> is restricted.

0059It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. For example, the preferred material used to construct the components of the instant invention is a hydrocarbon polymer; however, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other materials, such as other ferrous or non-ferrous materials, natural or synthetic rubber, fiber reinforced resin or a hybrid combination of such materials, could also be utilized to provide a flexible conduit system as described herein. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.